The legend returns for the 32nd edition of the Festival

Diana Krall

solo concerts at the Festival

Tickets on sale Saturday at noon

Montreal, Tuesday, February 8, 2011 - The love affair between Diana Krall and the Festival continues! The internationally acclaimed pianist and singer finally returns to the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal with her first solo concert series! The legend will perform on three consecutive nights in Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts, on June 26, 27 and 28 at 6 p.m., part of the En voix Rio Tinto Alcan series. Tickets for all three performances, Diana Krall-Solo in Concert, part of the 32nd edition of the Festival, presented by TD in collaboration with Rio Tinto Alcan, go on sale Saturday, February 12 at noon.

We can thank André Ménard for the opportunity to finally enjoy Diana Krall in solo performance, a career first for the B.C. native! The artistic director and co-founder of the Festival-ever in search of a new challenge-dearly wanted to present the celebrated pianist in an entirely unprecedented format. His sensibility was most persuasive, because when choosing from among Ménard’s propositions, Krall seized upon the most intimate and intimidating, the most alluring and exciting-and the most daring!-taking up her very own challenge to leap into the unknown and perform solo onstage. Yet again, the Festival is the stage for a major turning point in the trajectory of this talented pianist.

Indeed, the Festival has been present for every major moment in Diana Krall’s career, playing an active role in her evolution: from her first appearance, so shy she could barely look at her audience, through to the beautifully assured, mature artist we recognize today. We fondly recall every stage in the remarkable history of this brilliant artist at this the Festival: her very first appearance in 1995-a dazzling debut!-performing a 10-night residency with a trio tribute to the legendary Nat King Cole; her first filmed concert the following year, in the sorely-missed Spectrum; her Salle Wilfrid‑Pelletier premiere in 1998; her stunning gala with 30 musicians in 1999; and, finally, the unforgettable pinnacle of her Festival shows, the grand 2004 gala celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Festival, with Diana in the Centre Bell (and special surprise guest Elvis Costello… !).

After far too long away from the Festival, Krall returns “home”, for three nights rather than one-yet another coup, since she rarely plays multiple nights on the same stage! It’s an irresistible opportunity to experience raw talent in its most unadorned expression-a talent that led us to select Diana Krall from among literally thousands of musicians to join the closed circle of 24 immortal Festival legends shining from the windows of the eastern facade of the Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, February 12 at noon

Tickets for these concerts go on sale Saturday, February 12 at noon and will be available from the Place des Arts box office (175 Ste. Catherine St. W.), from laplacedesarts.com, 514 842‑2112 or 1 866 842‑2112.

To get the jump on the crowd, sign up for the SpectraNewsletter and have the scoop on the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal emailed to your inbox. For further information, call the Bell Info-Jazz Line at 514 871‑1881, toll-free at 1 85JAZZFEST, or visit montrealjazzfest.com.

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